Over the field of real numbers, analytic geometry has long been in deep
interaction with algebraic geometry, bringing the latter subject many of
its topological insights. In recent decades, model theory has joined
this work through the theory of o-minimality, providing finiteness and
uniformity statements and new structural tools.For non-archimedean
fields, such as the p-adics, the Berkovich analytification provides a
connected topology with many thoroughgoing analogies to the real
topology on the set of complex points, and it has become an important
tool in algebraic dynamics and many other areas of geometry.This book
lays down model-theoretic foundations for non-archimedean geometry. The
methods combine o-minimality and stability theory. Definable types play
a central role, serving first to define the notion of a point and then
properties such as definable compactness.Beyond the foundations, the
main theorem constructs a deformation retraction from the full
non-archimedean
space of an algebraic variety to a rational polytope. This generalizes
previous results of V. Berkovich, who used resolution of singularities
methods.No previous knowledge of non-archimedean geometry is assumed.
Model-theoretic prerequisites are reviewed in the first sections.